Arabic names for white child

[Violetrose7]

Me and my partner are both white British, the baby girl names we love the most include Amira, Amaya and Safiya, all of which are of Arabic origin. I also love Zara but he isn’t keen.

has anyone got any other suggestions similar to these names and also does anyone think it would be an issue using an Arabic name when we have no connection to the culture? We just love the names!

As the only person in my white family with a foreign sounding name I am constantly being asked my origins, it’s gets very tedious indeed. It does indeed provoke alot of curiosity when what people are seeing doesn’t match the name, the assumption is you or your parents must of come from somewhere else and ‘are different’, I got quizzed so much by one Yorkshire B&B owner, asking if I was from a certain country I ended up feeling too uncomfortable to even go down for the dinner and breakfast we’d prepaid for. P.s it’s a lovely name and I can understand why my mother chose it, perhaps save it as a middle name??

@SwedeAtTheFinnishLine , some names become popular because of fashion.
If the name is from a different language, culture or religion, there are implications like assumptions, prejudice and curiosity to consider, and also people may struggle with spelling and pronunciation.

An example might be the name Ezra. Baby name explorer. I'd guess that a 20+ y.o. Ezra would have Jewish heritage

I know someone who picked the name because it was unusual, which it was then. Someone pregnant at the same called theirs Ezra too, so there were two in the baby group. That is what happens.

Back in the 1970s, when Mark and Anne Phillips called their baby Zara it was considered unusual.

I personally don't think any Muslim/Arabic families would be offended (re cultural appropriation) if a white British family named their child by an Arabic name.

@Hellogoodbyehowdoyoudo , are you Muslim/Arabic?

You need to deal with your anxiety, not going down to breakfast because someone asked about the origins of your name is a ridiculous decision to make.

People of a certain culture thinking something is unique to their culture, or they invented it, it when it’s not / they didn’t, is hardly unusual. Do you know how many countries claim to have the oldest university in the world? Maybe you should try not taking everything you hear at face value?

Also, you can apply reverse etymology to make the argument that any number of cultures invented any name. As you say, the Egyptian line is just one of many theories, so I’m not sure why you so confidently stated it as a fact…

Hannah is Jewish /old testament but several other of the so called Arabic names mentioned on this thread are Old Testament too … just shows you how names are cross cultural. I know two Amaya’s one is white British and one is British Indian (via Kenya) but Hindu and 3rd generation!

@Holluschickie

my Asian friend told me that me wearing a sari was cultural appreciation! (Not appropriation) and whenever I’ve been invited to events in the Asian community I get immediately offered saris to borrow (they don’t expect me to buy one but they do hope I’ll wear one) they are so beautiful but I’m rubbish at putting it on, I have to be dressed!

Use whatever name you like! There’s tons of names from all types of cultures. Mine is French but I’m UK born and bred.

My sister is named after my mums best friend who has a traditionally German name.

Not sure it matters and not convinced it’s cultural appropriation unless it’s something like Mohammed.

How about Amalya? Or Mia / Maya / Maia

I wouldn’t associate Amira with being an Arabic name as if also has a Hebrew meaning

Sofia? Serach is an Old Testament name as is Noa (for girl) - nice story about her fighting for her inheritance with her sisters in book of Numbers.

Yes exactly. Jewish names like Ezra Boaz Eliana are now quite common.

I am one of the two, and know lots of people who are one / both of the two, not one of us would be bothered. Actually we would be happy to see the names in wider use, it's nice to share parts of our heritage with others as part of the multicultural society we live in.

Ignore the cultural appropriation comments. I went to school with a Muslim girl called Tracy-Louise in the 90s lol

I don’t see it being an issue! I have Arab roots and feel it’s a lovely sentiment to use an Arabic name because you like the sound of it. Lots of words in the English language are derived from other languages. One of the beauties of living in a multi-cultural society. Amira is a lovely name!

To be fair it's not quite the same thing - no one would bat an eyelid at a child being called Maxim or Alexander, or even Dimitri, but assumptions will be made about a child called Vsevolod or Gordey or Ruslan.

For what it's worth I completely support your right to call your child whatever you like. But I think it may be naive to assume there will be no comment (either in front of you or not).

Reminds me of the white, blonde, actress Radha Rani Amber Indigo Ananda Mitchell.

Blags my head.

Zara is so well used in the UK for its origins to be irrelevant imo. Like Layla.

No issue at all with Amaya either. I know 3. 2 are Spanish and one is Flemish. I had no idea it was also an Arabic name until I read this thread. It's beautiful.

I would probably avoid Amira and Safiya, they do sound distinctly Arabic to my ears.

I don't think you understand what a big problem and confusion you could be creating for your child.
I know someone in this situation.
If your child has an Arabic name, then Arabic people will see it written down and potentially start talking to her in Arabic, ask her which town her parents come from, or even beam at her delightedly and say "Oh, I see from your name you're Arabic". Their face will fall and they will look puzzled when your daughter says actually she's not Arabic but her parents liked the name. She will feel she has let them down.
Some people will think she must be Arabic if she has an Arabic name, that she's trying to cover something up.
Believe me, it's not a good idea.
It sounds beautifully multi-cultural or whatever, but you should not foist a potential identity crisis on your child.

I also know a couple of Scheherazades
Really?
Can you expand?
How do you even pronounce it?
How old are these children?
Why would anyone do this to their child?

@SixtySomething , Sheh-Heh-Ruh-zard. (non-rhotic zard, rhymes with yard)
I don't know why you said 'even'.
It's the name of the storyteller in 1001 Arabian Nights.

Why would anyone do this to their child? Because they love the name, I expect .

They’re Indian, probably in their 40s, I think. I rather like it!

It seems absolutely unbelievable to me.
Imagine spelling that out over the phone to someone dyslexic (no offence to dyslexics intended).
One should have some thought for the poor child in choosing a name. It's not just a case of what you like.

It’s not ‘cultural appropriation’ to use one of these names at all. Totally ridiculous to suggest that!

Most names we use today aren’t of English origin anyway. Many are Jewish!

Who gives a flying fuck what other people think? When people choose ‘traditional’ names like John, Catherine or Jennifer, I think they are boring as fuck and show total lack of imagination of the part of the parents - but I wouldn’t say that to their face!